Politic Politics

Pertinent comments on current news items, politics and sport, particularly when half truths are presented and the whole truth is obscured. This Blog criticises events but also tries to be constructive with its remarks !

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Wednesday, 16 August 2017

Theoretically the IAAF wants records to be achieved by one individual athlete, without any help from other competitors. Alas, instances have occurred when an athlete has been helped to win by fellow nationals, or been helped by a conniving friend, in the same race.Will the IAAF decide to limit competitors to one per country, to eliminate "team help" in non-lane races ? Would such a decision not encourage smaller countries to participate more by sending more athletes ? Such a decision could also reveal the need for Relay Races or Team Races with 3, 4 or 5 athletes over the longer distances. That innovation would permit the former "fellow national helpers" to compete in a more appropriate race !Long team races would also definitely interest many of the African Countries : they have an enormous depth of natural long distance running talent. .

Monday, 14 August 2017

In the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London last week, were events won by athletes, with the help of one or two other Competitors from their own country in the same race ? What is questionable is whether it is right to adopt as an individual World Record, a performance which is achieved when other countrymen are also participating in the same race ? Should such a record not be registered only as a "National Record" but never as a "World Record" ?In races longer than 400 metres, competitors are not obliged to remain in "lanes". This is when "team" runners, could and do sometimes, start to help each other ! Hence the question arises whether all current IAAF World Records have been correctly recorded ? .

Friday, 11 August 2017

In the 5 000 meters semi-final the two Ethiopian competitors ran as a team. It was quite clear their aim was to prevent Mo Farah from winning the race, but he managed to slip through and was second.Farah will have noted that the other semi-final was again won by an Ethiopian. This means there will be a team of 3 Ethiopians to "look after" Farah in the Final on Saturday, 12th August ! The aim will again be to prevent Farah from getting to the front of the race, either by boxing him in on the inside lane, or by making it hard for him to overtake them on the outside ! Farah has the experience and the physical strength to win through but, are there any rules to prevent or discourage "unsportman like" behaviour ? How many times this week have we seen "accidents" resulting in athletes being tripped-up or knocked-over, or even being spiked ? .

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

Monday, 17 July 2017

Many benefits are expected when electric cars are eventually mass produced. The benefits are regularly highlighted worldwide by "green" political parties. What is neglected is the havoc which will be caused by the regular production and development of electric cars !Every electric car produced and sold logically means one less petrol driven car will be bought ! Will ALL current car producers then have a competitive electric replacement to maintain their own production lines ? Or will they slowly be obliged to close their plants ?There are Companies which have subsidiary production plants in several overseas countries ! Will these "subs" remain viable and in operation ?

Electric cars need batteries, which will need recharging. Will there be sufficient "recharging points" conveniently available everywhere, just like the petrol stations at present ?Ultimately, will cars not be developed to have two batteries, one for current driving usage and one for recharging itself while the car is moving ? Is this not THE ultimate future aim ? Finally, will Governments not lose an important amount of tax at present levied on Petrol for cars ? Could they impose an equally heavy level of tax on Electric cars ?Could there also not be havoc in the area of "Unemployment" ? Already Governments seek to reduce their overhead costs, but will they now also plan for the foregoing problems ? Probably not !They will leave that for their elected "successors" in the late 2020's ! Furthermore, Totalitarian Countries are perhaps better placed for long term planning. They have fewer election problems. .

Friday, 7 July 2017

A meeting of all 28 EU Ministers of the Interior has taken place in Tallinn, the Capital city of Estonia, to discuss problems provoked by the increasing number of desperate "migrants" from Africa arriving on the shores of Italy. The number of migrants who perish at sea is also rising despite valiant international efforts. BUT, how many active and rich "refugee smugglers" have been brought to justice ? How many of their Vessels have been destroyed ? Statistics are not often published ! Is the time still not yet ripe, for all the "Leaders" of the EU to meet, to formulate and adopt an Official Policy which selects and defines which Migrants are permitted to enter the EU ?

How can the EU pretend to be a "UNION" when external and interior Borders are not securely manned ? Any migrant once in the EU has the freedom to circulate and settle anywhere. Why do some countries refuse EU Migrants or new arrivals ? Germany needs labourers for its factories, but does it also welcome relatives ?Should the stay of Refugees from the Middle East War not be limited, to encourage them to return later to help rebuild their country ? The EU alone cannot, without the active help of African and Middle East Countries, solve all these problems. EU rules appear to be stop-gap solutions : in fact, basic EU Rules and Principles enshrined in Treaties need to be updated and modernised, to permit the adoption of a comprehensive Policy on the control of Migrants.When could one expect action on this question ? This is not clear, because General Elections in Germany and Austria are imminent and will also take place in Italy next Spring ! No Leaders want to "rock the boat" ! .